Hebrews 7:20

Order of Service

• Missions Presentation — Esther (SANSABU Ministry in Mali)
• Question and Answer Session
• Pastoral Prayer

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Sermon Title: Caring for Orphans and Widows — A Mission Report from Mali

Scripture: Hebrews 7:20

I. Context: Mali and Its People

A. Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa with a capital city of Bamako and a population of approximately 22 million B. Cultural and historical significance

1. Home to the Mali Empire in the 13th century and the famous city of Timbuktu
2. Notable landmarks include the Mosque of Djenné, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
3. Known for the kente-style woven fabric called bògòlanfini (bogolanfini), originating in Mali C. Sobering statistics
4. 40% of the population lives below the poverty line (under one dollar per day)
5. Life expectancy is 59–61 years; high infant and maternal mortality rates
6. 90–95% of the population is Muslim; only 2–5% is Christian (Catholic and Protestant combined)
7. Literacy and education rates are 35–40%, with women disproportionately affected

II. The Plight of Widows and Orphans

A. Widows face extreme vulnerability upon the death of a husband

1. Women typically have little formal education and limited financial independence
2. Malian law and custom often allow the husband's family to repossess all property, leaving the widow destitute
3. Cultural stigma makes returning to her parents' home difficult
4. No pension or income support systems exist in most cases B. Orphans are defined broadly as any fatherless child
5. Approximately 900,000 children in Mali are considered orphans
6. Education is typically the first casualty when a father dies
7. Children often take on manual labor to help support the family

III. The SANSABU Ministry

A. Founded in 2014 by a woman in Bamako to address the neglected needs of orphans and widows within the Malian church B. Esther became involved in 2020, donating her summer earnings to fund the first Christmas drive

1. The December 2020 drive served 55 orphans and 45 widows with food and clothing
2. Partnered with a college ministry group and personal supporters for additional fundraising C. Current ministry to orphans (95 children actively supported)
3. Distribution of school supplies and payment of school fees
4. Clothing distribution at Christmas and Easter
5. Partnership with Operation Christmas Child (2023)
6. Every gathering includes Bible teaching, praise, and follow-up mentorship D. Current ministry to widows (82 widows actively supported)
7. Food donation drives twice yearly at Easter and Christmas
8. Bible studies, prayer, and fasting gatherings
9. Hygiene workshops and vocational training (e.g., soap-making, food processing)
10. Business development support in partnership with local NGOs; profits returned to widows
11. Home visits in keeping with James 1:27 E. Biblical foundation: care for the widow and orphan is a direct scriptural mandate (cf. James 1:27, Deuteronomy 10:18)
12. Ministry is primarily directed toward believers but does not exclude unbelievers
13. Every point of contact is an opportunity for gospel witness

IV. Challenges and Future Plans

A. Mobilizing more business-focused NGO partners to expand widow self-sufficiency programs B. Moving from all-volunteer staff to permanent paid personnel C. Constructing a dedicated operations facility on recently purchased land (currently operating from the president's home) D. Expanding ministry reach beyond Bamako into rural areas

V. Prayer Requests

A. Continued provision for the orphans and widows being served B. Growth in permanent staffing and organizational capacity C. Expansion of operations outside the capital city D. The ongoing spread of the gospel throughout Mali and across Africa